Intro to Resume Branding Statements
Creating a brand (aka professional persona) is hot—very hot! Once associated with top business professionals, movie stars, musicians, etc., personal branding strategies get applied to job seekers, too.
Let's start by understanding what creating and shaping a career brand looks like.
A career brand is not necessarily made up of one thing but of many. According to Wikipedia.org, personal branding “is not limited to the body, clothing, appearance, and knowledge contained within, leading to an indelible impression that is uniquely distinguishable.”
Chances are, a career brand will be made up of unique skills, experiences, projects, and achievements resulting from a well-manicured career.
Here are some career brand statements to consider:
- Kim Kardashian | Reality TV Star & Social Media Influencer | Drive More Than $1B in Annual Revenue From Various Clothing, Endorsement, Skincare, Cosmetic & Fragrance Businesses
- Jerry Seinfeld | Emmy Award-Winning Actor & Comedian | Known as an Observational Comedian Who's Launched Many Profitable Reality TV Shows in the Past 10 Years
- Mark Cuban | Outspoken Philanthropher, Entrepreneur, Investor, and Owner of the Dallas Mavericks | Invest Millions Annually in Seed & Series A Startups With an Emphasis on Tech & Disruptive Innovation Assets
Additional descriptors could also be included. For example, for Mark, we could add "Highly Competitive & Secures Above-Average Success in Business"; for Jerry, we could add "Car Enthusiast With Incredible Work Ethic"; and for Kim, we could say "New Vegan Advocate & Plant-Based Lover."
Can branding strategies be used by everyday professionals? Absolutely. Because a brand statement contains a bit of content that highlights a person's uniqueness, we can apply this strategy to just about anyone.
To help identify a solid brand from each of your clients, there are a few questions you need answered, including:
- What's this person most known for?
- What are the most recent and relevant top achievements in their career?
- What do people turn to them most for?
- What's most unique about their skills, experiences, and influence?
When you ask these questions, you uncover what motivates and drives the pursuit of their career goals.
